Huskers Use Inside Game To Defeat Oral Roberts

Lincoln - Larry Florence scored eight of his 19 points in a 15-4 run midway through the second half as Nebraska ended a two-game losing streak with an 80-65 win over Oral Roberts at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Wednesday night.

Leading 43-40, Florence's baskets triggered the Husker run to give Nebraska a 58-44 lead, as the Huskers improved to 5-6 on the season. The senior from Phenix City, Ala., scored 13 of his 19 points after halftime as the Huskers pulled away from ORU (5-6) throughout the second half.

Florence, who only played eight minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, is 19 points away from becoming the 22nd Husker to score 1,000 career points.

The Huskers won the contest with defense and rebounding, holding the Golden Eagles to 31 percent shooting, the lowest by a Nebraska opponent this season, and enjoying a 60-35 rebounding advantage. Junior Kimani Ffriend set a Bob Devaney Sports Center record with 21 rebounds, breaking the previous record of 20 held by Derrick Chandler in 1992 and Pittsburgh's Jermone Lane in 1988.

Ffriend, who also finished with 13 points and three blocked shots, was one four Huskers in double figures. Junior Steffon Bradford posted a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Rodney Fields chipped in 11 points and four assists off the bench.

The Golden Eagles used the hot hand of senior guard Nathan Binam to build and six-point lead late in the first half. Binam, who connected on five 3-pointers in the first half, led the Golden Eagles with 17 points and was joined by Eric Perry, who finished with 11 points, as the only Golden Eagles in double figures.

Trailing 30-24, the Huskers closed the half on a 12-3 run behind junior Rodney Fields, who scored six of his 11 points in the first half, including a jumper to beat the halftime buzzer to give Nebraska 36-33 lead.

While the Golden Eagles were enjoying success from long range, connecting on 10 3-pointers, Nebraska countered by pounding the ball inside against a smaller ORU lineup. Bradford scored 14 of his career-high 21 points, hitting all six shots from the floor, in the first half.

The Huskers will enjoy their longest break of the season before returning to action on Dec. 31 to face Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. at the Devaney Center.

Nebraska Postgame Notes:
*-Nebraska out-rebounded Oral Roberts 61-36, marking the seventh time this season that the Huskers had a rebounding advantage and the first time in the last three games. NU's 60 team rebounds are a season high (previous best was 52 in the double overtime win over Eastern Illinois) and the first time Nebraska had 60 or rebounds in a game since recording 66 against Colgate (12/4/1992).

*- Kimani Ffriend posted the first double-double of his career with 13 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. His 21 boards topped his previous high of 10 against Western Carolina and set a Bob Devaney Sports Center record, breaking the previous record of 20 held by Nebraska's Derrick Chandler (vs. Colorado, 1/27/92) and Pittsburgh's Jerome Lane (NCAA Tournament vs. Vanderbilt, 3/20/1988). It is only the third time since 1970-71 that a Husker had 20 or more rebounds in a game (also LeRoy Chalk 20 vs. Colorado, 3/6/1971). Pending further research, it may be the second-highest total in school history. Bill Johnson holds the record with 26 vs. Iowa State (1/4/1954). It is also the third straight game, and sixth time this season, that Ffriend has finished in double figures in points. Ffriend also had three blocks tonight and leads the Big 12 with 36 blocks (3.3 bpg).

*- Steffon Bradford posted his second-straight double-double (and fourth of the season) with a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds in the win. His 21 points marked the second time he led the Huskers in scoring this year and topped his previous best of 18 against Monmouth. Bradford now has a team-best four double figure rebouning efforts this season.

*- Point guard Danny Walker set a career high with eight assists, topping his previous high of four (vs. Monmouth, Rutgers and San Francisco).

*- Nebraska held Oral Roberts to 30.9 percent shooting from the floor, marking the seventh time in 11 games that a Husker opponent was held to under 40 percent. NU's previous defensive best was .339 against Northwestern.

*- Rodney Fields' 11 points were the second time this season he has scored in double figures this season and three off his career-high of 14 against Rutgers. He also added four assists in 28 minutes.

*- Larry Florence's 19 points tonight gives him 981 career points, 19 points shy of becoming the 22nd Husker to score 1,000 career points.

*- Nebraska tied its season low for the second straight game with 17 turnovers.

*- Oral Roberts three pointers made (10) and attempted (34) were season highs for a Husker opponent, topping the previous season bests of nine made (Creighton) and 29 attempts (Eastern Illinois).

*- Ross Buckendahl recorded his first points of the season with a basket midway through the second half and tied his career high with 14 minutes. Freshman Ryan Thomas also saw the first action of his career in the final minute of the contest.